AFLW Crows versus Blues

See how the Crows kept their finals dreams alive

Crows players run onto the field during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Blues players run onto the field during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Ruth Wallace of the Crows celebrates a goal during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Crows players during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Ruth Wallace of the Crows and Nicola Stevens of the Blues during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Ruth Wallace of the Crows during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Kerryn Harrington of the Blues during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Ruth Wallace of the Crows celebrates a goal during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Nicola Stevens of the Blues during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Sarah Perkins and Ruth Wallace of the Crows celebrate a goal during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Gabriella Pound of the Blues during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Darcy Vescio of the Blues celebrates a goal during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Erin Phillips of the Crows during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Lauren Arnell of the Blues comes off the field with trainers after injury during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Katie Loynes of the Blues (L) and Marijana Rajcic of the Crows contest the ball during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Lauren Arnell of the Blues is tackled during the Round 5 AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz).

Adelaide Crows star forward Erin Phillips played less than half the game during her side's victory over the Blues, but coach Bec Goddard insists the co-captain's benching was only precautionary.

After a slow start to the season, the Crows' finals hopes are still alive after their 8.7 (55) to 2.8 (20) win at Norwood Oval on Saturday night.

The 35-point victory puts them just two points behind the top three sides on the ladder.

But injury concerns for Phillips took the shine off a stellar night for Adelaide, the co-captain and star forward spending the second half on the sidelines with ice on her quad.

Following the game, Goddard insisted the decision to bench Phillips for more than half the game was precautionary.

"Erin just had some awareness and when an experienced athlete like Erin says 'I've got a bit of awareness', I think you've got to listen to her and her body because we want her for the next two games," Goddard said.

"We were controlling the game, so we didn't need to leave her out there."

The reigning league best and fairest missed the first two games of the 2018 season after she was diagnosed with a minor quad strain.

She kicked four goals in round three, leading the Crows to a thrilling seven-point victory over the Western Bulldogs, their first win of the year.

The Crows will travel to Darwin to take on the Fremantle Dockers next week.